Dubai Basketball secured a 93-85 victory over Real Madrid on Thursday at Coca-Cola Arena, with Dzanan Musa leading his new team against his former club in Round 27 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season. The result strengthened Dubai’s push toward the playoff race, while Los Blancos dropped to 16-11 and remained seventh in the standings.
The Bosnian guard faced Real for the first time since leaving after three trophy-filled seasons that included the 2023 EuroLeague title and multiple domestic championships. Musa returned from a long knee injury absence earlier this month and delivered a decisive performance when the game tightened late.
Dubai struggled early and managed only 11 first-quarter points, with the former Madrid forward scoring eight of them as the hosts shot 4-of-15 from the field. Real controlled the tempo and led 19-11 after ten minutes, using rebounding advantages and half-court execution to slow the pace.
Momentum shifted when Filip Petrusev and Aleksa Avramovic combined for 19 points during a five-minute stretch in the second quarter, turning defensive stops into transition scoring. Even so, the Spanish powerhouse entered halftime ahead 44-37 after outrebounding Dubai 25-18.
Real extended the margin to 64-52 in the third quarter behind Facu Campazzo’s scoring, but Dubai’s adjustment to attack Alex Len in space opened driving lanes and perimeter looks. Bruno Caboclo sparked an 11-0 run with a three-pointer and a key block that ignited the crowd.
Musa regained control late in the third period with a three-point play that pushed Dubai ahead 69-68 entering the final quarter. He scored nine points in the last four minutes, mixing drives with free throws to prevent Madrid from completing a comeback.
The swingman finished with 20 points on efficient shooting and a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line for a PIR of 25, while Petrusev and McKinley Wright added 16 points each and Dwayne Bacon scored 15, including an off-balance basket that extended the lead to 90-83 in the closing minute. Campazzo paced Madrid with 24 points, and Walter Tavares added 17, but the visitors struggled from three-point range at 9-of-35.
Dubai improved to 13-14 and continued to show strong home form, relying on balanced scoring and late-game execution.
